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At least 50K tons of coal ash spills into Dan River fron Duke Energy power plant

Updated: 2:38 PM EST Feb 7, 2014

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Phil Kivett/WXIISOURCE: Phil Kivett/WXII

At least 50K tons of coal ash spills into Dan River fron Duke Energy power plant

Updated: 2:38 PM EST Feb 7, 2014

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EDEN, N.C. —

Duke Energy officials confirmed the presence of arsenic in the Dan River following an ongoing coal ash spill, but the company and environmental groups differ widely on how much.

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Duke Energy said Thursday its results at least 2 miles downstream from the Dan River Steam Station in Eden showed traces of arsenic contamination, but at levels considered safe for both people and aquatic life.

Water samples tested by a certified lab hired by the Waterkeeper Alliance contained hazardous levels of arsenic 10 times higher than Duke's readings. Those samples were collected yards from the spill site.

No water restrictions have been issued. Officials from Danville, which is downstream from the spill, said that while iron levels exceeded safe drinking standards, it's easily removed in routine water treatment. Their tests also detected boron, calcium, copper, magnesium, sodium and zinc in the raw water, but all met drinking standards.

Between 50,000 tons and 82,000 tons of coal ash have spilled into the Dan River since Sunday, along with 24-27 million gallons of basin water. The volume of spilled ash would fill 20-32 Olympic-sized pools.

As of Friday afternoon, the lake had been pumped out, and the flow to the river is none to very low, Duke Energy officials said. A broken 48-inch stormwater pipe led to the spill, and a permanent fix is still being worked on.

Gov. Pat McCrory toured the site Thursday, saying the spill needed to be brought under control as soon as possible. He worked for Duke for 28 years before retiring to launch his first campaign for governor in 2008. Watchdog groups have questioned whether the Republican governor's close ties to Duke executives have influenced how aggressively his administration regulates the company.

In a statement Thursday, State Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger asked for the coal ash spill and the 3.5 million-gallon wastewater spill in Burlington to be discussed at next week's Environmental Review Commission meeting. Berger said he had concerns over the response to both spills.

An Associated Press reporter canoed the Dan River on Wednesday and saw gray sludge several inches deep coating the river banks for miles. Some environmental groups say this may be the third biggest coal ash spill in U.S. history.

In a 90-minute meeting with Danville City Council Friday, Duke Energy officials said it takes full responsibility for the spill, and the pipe that led to the spill will be permanently sealed.

A dam that contains most of the ash wasn't affected, and most of the ash that spilled remained in a lagoon, DENR officials said. Duke Energy retired the onsite coal plant in 2012.